Coin-controlled vehicle parking system



Dec. 30, 1952 l. ALLsTADT, JR

COIN-CONTROLLED VEHICLE PARKING SYSTEM Filed March 9,A 1949 PatentedDec. 30, 1952 OFFICE COIN-CONTROLLED VEHICLE PARKING SYSTEM IraAllstadt, Jr., Memphis, Tenn.

Application March 9, 1949, Serial No. 80,501

2 Claims.

rIhis invention relates to vehicle parking systems and mechanisms andaims to provide improvements in the type of coin-controlled systems andmechanisms particularly adapted for use in controlling the parking ofvehicles and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a coin-controlled systemwhich is simple and economical in. construction and readily adaptablefor use with coin-controlled parking meters and like devices. y

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved type ofcoin-controlled parking meter system adapted to indicate by a visualsignal when a designated parking space is unoccupied and to indicate bya diierent visual signal in combination with an audible signal when theparking space is wrongfully or improperly occupied.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a parking metermechanism adapted to be actuated by a vehicle or object in a designatedparking space to cause a circuit to one lamp to be opened, therebyindicating that the space is occupied, and a circuit to another lamp anda bell to be closed thereby indicating by a visual and audible signalthat the parking space is wrongfully or improperly occupied.

t is another object of the invention to .provide a parking metermechanism having a signal for indicating when a parking space iswrongfully or improperly occupied and associated coin-controlled meansadapted to render said signal inoperative and to initiate operation of atiming mechanism to permit authorized parking for a limited timeinterval.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a parking metermechanism having signal means adapted to indicate Whether a parkingspace is properly or improperly occupied, a

timing mechanism adapted to limit the properv period of occupancy to apredetermined time interval and combined means for actuating the signalmeans and the timing mechanism, said combined means including a-photoelectrie cell unit adapted to be actuated by the presence of avehicle in the parking space to cause the circuit to a rlrst signalmeans to be opened and the circuit to a second signal means to beclosed, and a coin-controlled mechanism adapted to be actuated by a coindeposited therein to cause the circuit to the second signal means to beopened and the circuit to the timing mechanism to be closed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a parking metermechanism having a timing mechanism adapted to be put into operation bycooperating photoelectric tube means and coin-controlled means when acar is in a designated parking area and a coin has been deposited in thecoin-controlled means and means including said photoelectric tube meansfor rendering said timing mechanism inoperative and for resetting it tothe starting position when the car is withdrawn from the parkingareaprior to the expiration of a predetermined parking period.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from aconsideration of the accompanying drawing and annexed specificationillustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing, the ligure is a diagrammatic representation of theimproved system and mechanism according to the present invention showingthe parts in position when the light beam directed toward thephotoelectric cell unit is uninterrupted.

Referring to the drawing a light beam I from any suitable source oflight 2 is directed across a designated parking space or other area 3 toa photoelectric cell unit 4. The unit 4 may comprise a suitable type ofphotoelectric tube available commercially such as the R. C. A. 921Photoelectric Cell and is preferably provided with an amplifier 5designed to amplify the current therefrom sufficiently to actuate arelay 6. The photoelectric cell 4 and amplifier 5 may be connected toany suitable sources of electrical current having the desired high andlow voltages necessary to effect operation thereof The relay 6 comprisesa iield coil l, a core 9. and switches 9 and ID. Each of the switches 9and I0 is provided with a plurality of arms carrying contacts II, I2,I3, I4, I5 and I6, the arms carrying the middle contacts I2 and I5 beingconnected to the core 8 for movement thereby so that the contacts I2 andI5 may be alternately engaged with the contacts I I and I4 or I3 and I6.

As shown in the drawing when the parking area 3 is unoccupied and thebeam of light I uninterrupted, the contacts I2 and I3 of the switch 9are closed thus completing a circuit from the 6 volt side Il of thestepdown transformer I8 through the connections I9, 2i] and 2l to thelamp 22. Lamp 22 thus burns continuously when the parking area is notoccupied and may be utilized to illuminate a glass advertising panel orthe like in the front portion of a parking meter. Contacts I5 and IG ofswitch I0 are also closed when the parking area is notoccupied but sincecontact i5 is not connected in any circuit no current iiowstherethrough.

When a car is positioned in the parking space 3 it blocks the beam oflight i thus causing the photoelectric cell to be energized. rIhis inturn causes the field coil E of the relay 5 to be energized therebymoving the core 8 upwardly to close the contacts Il and 2 of switch 5and contacts ld and I5 of switch I5. This opens the circuit to the lamp22 through the contacts i2 and I3 and closes the circuit from the 6 voltside Il of the stepdown transformer i3 to a parallel arrangement of lamp23 and bell 22 through connections i9, 25 and 25, contacts 2i and 28 ofswitch 25 of a second relay 3, connection 3 i, contacts i I and l2 ofswitch 9 and connection 2I. Thus when a car is positioned in the parkingarea to block the beam of light I as stated,vthe lamp 22 is extinguishedto indicate that the area is occupied and the lamp 23 is lighted andbell 24 rung to indicate that the required fee has not been paid andhence that the parking area is improperly occupied.

Coin-controlled timing means 32 are provided to initiate operation of atiming mechanism 33 and to render the lamp 23 and bell 2li inoperative.Such means may comprise a frame member 3 5 having a lever 35 pivotedthereto and a coin slot 33 adapted to conduct a coin from the opening3'@ to a position where it will strike and depress one end of the lever35. At its opposite end the lever 35 is connected by a link 3S with onearrn 39 of a switch Arm 39 is raised upwardly when the lever 35 isdepressed by a coin thereby bringing a contact il thereon intocontacting relation with a contact 2 on the arm d3. Thus the insertionof a coin closes the switch 4 thereby completing the circuit from thellO volt line i2 through connection 5, contacts lli and i5 of switch i5,connection d5, held coil l? of the second relay Si?, connections d8 andswitch d5 and connections 55 and 5l back to the 110 volt line 44.Obviously any other suitable coincontrolled device may be used forclosing the switch 4B.

The closing of contacts lli and @l2 of switch it energizes the eld coilTI of relay 35 and causes the core 52 thereof to move upwardly carryingwith it the arm of switch 29 which has the Acontact 2l thereon. Contacts2 and 28 of switch 25 are thereby moved apart to open the circuit tolamp 23 and bell 2d thus rendering these signals inoperative andindicating that the parking area or space is properly occupied.

Upward movement of the core 52 also brings contacts 53 and 53 of switch55 into contacting relationship to close the circuit from the 110 voltline l through the field coil 55 o1" the timing device 33. This circuitcomprises connection 35, contacts ill and I5 of switch I5, connection33, field coil :il of relay 35, connections i8 and e3, contacts I and 32of switch 5G, connections 5t and 58, contacts 53 and 53 of switch 55,connections l5i) and 5, field coil 56 of timing device 33, andconnections 5l and 5! back to the 110 volt line.

Completion of the circuit through eld coil 56 initiates operation of thetiming device 33 to thereby rotate a cam 6l against the action of a coilspring t2. When the cam Si begins to rotate it immediately contacts aprojection 53 on arm `M of switch G5 and forces the arm Gli laterally sothat a contact 55 thereon engages a similar contact 51 on the arm 38.rhis ccm'- pletes an additional circuit from the 11'0 volt line t4through the eld coil 56 which continues operation of the timing motorafter the switch 4I! returns to its normal open position followingpassage of the coin past the lever 35. rhis additional circuit from thevolt line comprises connection 135, contacts Hl and i5 of switch i3,connection 23, eld coil Se? of relay 35, connections i8 and 39, contacts63 and 5l of switch 55, connections 7? and 55, field coil 55 of timingdevice 33, and connections 5l and 5I back to the 110 volt line.

If a car remains in the parking space the timing mechanism continues torotate the cam @I until the uniformly curved portion thereof passesbeyond the projection 53 on arm 64 and permits the arm 63 to movelaterally away from the arm 68 to break the contact between contacts 35and 5i. This opens the circuit to the eld coil 56 thereby deenergizingthe timing mechanism 33 whereby the spring 52 immediately returns thecam EI to its starting position in readiness for a new cycle. .Suitablestop means are provided to limit the return movement of the cam `t! pastits starting position.

Breaking the circuit through the timing device 33 likewise breaks thecircuit through the eld coil Il? of the relay 35. This permits the core52 to drop to its lower position and thereby reestablish contact betweenthe contacts 27 and 28 of switch 29 to again close the circuit to thelamp 23 and bell 2d. This gives warning that a vehicle has overstayedthe parking limit and that it should be moved or another coin inserted.

If a car is removed from the parking space f prior to the expiration ofthe parking period the beam of light I again strikes the photoelectriccell i causing it to deenergize the field coil 'I of the relay 5. Thecore 8 thereupon drops reestablishing contact between the contacts i2and i3 of switch 9 and thus completing the circuit to the lamp 22. Thisindicates that the parking area is unoccupied. At the same time thedownward movement of the core 8 moves the contacts i5 and I5 apart thusbreaking the circuit to the timing device 33. Spring 52 thereuponreturns the cam 5il and the timing mechanism to its original or startingposition where it is again ready for a new cycle of operations.

Summarizing the operation of the device the position of all relays andswitches when the parking area is vacant is as shown in the figure ofthe drawing. Contacts I2 and i3 of switch 5 are closed and complete thecircuit to lamp 22 to indicate that the parking space is unoccupied.

When a car enters the parking area 3 the beam of light I is interruptedthereby causing the photoelectric cell unit 4 to actuate the relay 6 sothat contacts II and I2 of switch 5 complete the circuit to lamp 23 andbell 24 through contacts 2l and 28 of switch 29. Lamp 23 is therebylighted and bell 24 rung tto indicate that the parking area is occupiedbut that the required parking fee has not been paid. Actuation of therelay 6 also moves the contacts I2 and I3 apart to break the circuit tothe lamp 22 and the contacts I4 and I5 together to complete the circuitfrom the 110 volt line 44 through field coil 41 of relay 3l! up tocontact 66 or switch 65.

When a coin is inserted in the opening 31 and moves downwardly throughthe slot 36 to depress the lever 35 a momentary contact is made betweenthe contacts 4I and 42 thereby com'- pleting the circuit to eld coil 41of relay 30 and actuating same. This action starts the timer motor byclosing the contacts 53 and 54 of switch 55 and movement of the cam 6Iimmediately closes the contacts B6 and 6l of switch 65.

Contact points BB and 61 together with contact points 53 and 54 maintainthe circuit through the eld coil 4'! of relay 30 until one of thefollowing events occurs (l) a predetermined parking period elapses or(2) the parking area is vacated. the former case the cam on the timermotor shaft permits the contacts 66 and 61 to move apart thus breakingthe circuit to field coil 41. This permits core 52 to drop therebyclosing the contacts 21 and 28 to again complete the circuit to lamp 23and bell 24. Substantially simultaneously therewith and as soon as thecircuit through the field coil 55 is broken the spring 62 returns thecam 5| and associated mechanism to starting position where it is readyfor a new parking period. In the latter case relay 6 is deenergizedpermitting the core 8 to drop and thus close the circuit to the lamp 22and open the circuit to the iield coil 4'! of relay 3B and eld coil 56of timing device 33. Relay 30 thereupon returns to its normal positionas shown in the drawing and cam GI returns to its starting positionunder the influence of the spring 62.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an economicaland highly effective device particularly adapted for automaticallyregulating parking in designated parking areas.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustratedand described modiiications thereof will occur to those skilled in theart to which the invention relates and are considered within the spiritof the invention, the scope of which is indicated in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a coin controlled vehicle parking system, a first signal deviceindicative of the absence of a vehicle in a parking space, a secondsignal device indicative of the presence of a vehicle in the parkingspace and of the failure of insertion of a coin or of overstaying thetime allotted after the insertion of a coin, a normally closed circuitfor said first signal device, means operated by the entry of a vehiclein the parking space for opening the circuit to said iirst signaldevice, for closing the circuit to the second signal device and forpreparing a control circuit, said means remaining ln operation duringthe presence of the vehicle in said space, means operated by theinsertion of a coin for completing said control circuit, means in saidcontrol circuit for opening the circuit to the second signal device andfor closing a circuit to an electrically operated self-restoring timingdevice, means operated by the starting of the operation of the timingdevice for closing a maintaining circuit for the timing device includingsaid circuit closing device operated by the presence of the vehicle inthe parking space and a circuit closing device operated by the timingdevice, and means operated by the timing device when it counts apredetermined time for opening said maintaining circuit.

2. In a coin controlled vehicle parking system, a first signal deviceindicative of the absence of a vehicle in a parking space, a secondsignal device indioative of the presence of a vehicle in the parkingspace and of the failure of insertion of a coin or ci overstaying thetime allotted after the insertion of a coin, a normally closed circuitfor said iirst signal device, means operated by the entry of a vehiclein the parking space for opening the circuit to said rst signal device,for closing the circuit to the second signal device and for preparing acontrol circuit, said means remaining in operation during the presenceof the vehicle in said space, means operated by the insertion of a coinfor completing said control circuit, means in said control circuit foropening the circuit to the second signal device and for closing acircuit to an electrically operated timing device, a maintaining circuitfor the timing device including switch means normally closed by thepresence of a vehicle in the parking space and switch means adapted tobe closed upon initiating operation of the timing device, said timingdevice operating to open said maintaining circuit when it has counted apredetermined time to close the circuit to the second signal deviceduring such time as the circuit to the rst signal device is open.

IRA ALLSTADT, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,028,037 Babson Jan. 14, 19362,360,885 Metcalf Oct. 24, 1944

